Irene Tedrow

Irene Tedrow (August 3, 1907 – March 10, 1995) was an American character actress known for her work in stage, film, television, and radio. She studied under Ben Iden Payne and gained experience with Maurice Evans's troupe in New York City and on national tours. Tedrow was a founding member of San Diego's Old Globe Theater and began her career as an ingénue. She portrayed multiple characters in Shakespearean plays at The Old Globe during the Chicago Fair in 1934. She also joined Orson Welles' Mercury Theater. Tedrow's notable roles include Janet Archer in the radio series Meet Corliss Archer, Mrs. Lucy Elkins in the TV sitcom Dennis the Menace, and Mrs. Webb in the stage production Our Town at the Plumstead Playhouse. She continued to appear on Broadway into her eighties, with notable roles in King Richard III (1937) and other productions.